First Measles Fatalities Confirmed in Pennsylvania
Amid a 35-year high in US measles cases, two individuals in Pennsylvania have died after contracting the virus, the state’s health department confirmed on Tuesday. They are the first measles-related deaths in the country this year.
Both individuals were unvaccinated residents of Lancaster County in south-central Pennsylvania, which has a large Amish population. The health department stated it would not release additional information to protect their privacy.
Surging Cases and Public Health Concerns
Pennsylvania has recorded 393 measles cases in 2026 so far, with roughly half of those in Lancaster County. Only Utah and South Carolina have logged more cases this year.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro called measles a serious and growing problem during a press conference. ‘Illness and death from measles is completely preventable,’ he said. ‘We already have the tools to protect ourselves and our families from this disease.’
Declining Vaccination Rates Fueling Outbreaks
Nationwide, there have been nearly 2,800 measles cases this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That is up significantly from 2,289 cases in 2025 and 285 cases in 2023.
Declining vaccination rates are heavily fueling the current outbreaks. In Lancaster County, just 87 percent of incoming kindergarteners are fully vaccinated, falling well below the 95 percent threshold needed for community immunity.
